De Grasse Sprinted To Otherworldly Double

Celebrating A Century of NCAA Track & Field Championships

De Grasse Sprinted To Otherworldly Double

Andre De Grasse was a supernova in a pair of star-studded sprint fields at the 2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. 

De Grasse completed the 100-200 double in Eugene, Oregon, with blistering, wind-aided marks that left Hayward Field buzzing and turned the collegiate track & field world – and track & field world, in general – on its head six years ago. 

It all started in the 100, where De Grasse lined up against Trayvon Bromell, who clocked the second-fastest time in collegiate history in the semifinals the day before. Bromell went 9.90, which barely missed the collegiate record set by Ngoni Makusha of Florida State in 2011. 

There wasn’t much that Bromell – or the rest of the field – could do when De Grasse turned on the jets halfway through the race. De Grasse pulled away from the other seven men in the field to win by 0.13 seconds in 9.75 (+2.7), the fastest all-conditions mark in meet history. 

Less than one hour later, De Grasse returned to the track for the 200, an event in which he inserted himself into the national conversation late in the season. The Canadian won the Pac-12 title in 20.03 (-0.1), which marked a 0.13-second PR for him and vaulted him to the No. 2 spot on the NCAA Division I Descending Order List entering the NCAA postseason. 

De Grasse wouldn’t be denied the double, as he shot out of the blocks and ran the curve hard. He powered down the home straight and kept going – all the way to a 19.58 (+2.4) clocking that made him the fifth-fastest performer in world history, regardless of conditions (Only four men had bettered that mark: Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Michael Johnson and Walter Dix).

posted: April 25, 2021
1921-2021
The NCAA's First Championships

The NCAA and collegiate track & field will mark a momentous milestone in the spring of 2021 -- the 100th anniversary of the NCAA Championships and with that, the NCAA Track & Field Championships. In June 1921, the University of Chicago hosted the first track & field championships in NCAA history.

This point can’t be emphasized enough: Not only was the event the first for NCAA track & field, but the first championships for any sport under the sponsorship of the NCAA.

To celebrate, over each of the next 365 days, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) will celebrate moments, student-athletes, and coaches that have made a century’s worth of championships special. From humble beginnings to important historical milestones to the modern-day, collegiate track & field has evolved with the American society.

The 2021 edition of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships begin with preliminary round action on May 27-29 in Jacksonville, Fla., and College Station, Texas. The championships final site and culmination of the celebration is slated for June 9-12, 2021 at the newly rebuilt Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Memorable Moments
Plab Reached Lofty Heights In NCAA HJ

Darrin Plab won back-to-back HJ titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1991 & 1992. Plab cleared 2.34m (7-8) in 1992 & tied the 2nd best bar in meet history.

Peoples Made History One Lap At A Time

Maurice Peoples won the 440-yard dash in 1973 & then really turned up the heat. Peoples split 43.4 on the Sun Devils’ mile relay team that finished third in the final.

KU’s Lokedi Set 10K MR In 2018

Sharon Lokedi won the 10K at the 2018 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in a meet-record 32:09.20. Lokedi led five other women under the old final-site best, too.

Can Ereng Kick It? Yes, He Can!

Paul Ereng won back-to-back 800-meter titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships in 1988 & 1989. Ereng is still the current indoor record holder in the event.

Dwight Stones Set High Jump WR In 1976

Dwight Stones set a world record in the high jump of 2.31m (7-7) at the 1976 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships. Stones also raised the MR by more than 3 inches!